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Querying (and then viewing) SQL Server data with user interaction

  • August 28, 2007 at 11:36 pm

    #178248

    Hi Group,

    I am a newbie when it comes to SQL Server, but have some extensive db experience (desktop dbs, like Paradox, and some Access.) I have a need to create a stand-alone app that interacts with a vertical market software program which is based on SQL Server (2000 or 2005, MSDE or Express.) If this question is in the wrong forum, please advise where I should place it.

    In order to customize the program I need to be able to display a list of the customized fields, what they have been customized to display, etc... I can generate the query to create the view I need, but the view displays columns containing very un-userfriendly numbers, instead of text values. I might be able to, using queries and subqueries (using massive IN lists) create the view I need, but I think it might be better to just create a table (can I create one by importing the contents of a .csv file?) and then just joining my view and that reference table (which contains approximately 160 rows and 4 columns.)

    I will also need some method of prompting the user for the name of the table to query (it would be a drop-down list) and a few other variables (sorting options.) The results of the interface would need to be passed to the query above. But I don't know what to use for the interface and how to pass the collected data to the SQL query. I can't assume that my prospective users would have Access or any other application, so I'm looking for suggestions.

    Also, the end result is a view containing the customized information, sorted by the parameters the user interface collects. I'm not sure what would be the best tool to display this information either, so any suggestions would be welcome.

    As I write this it seems to be growing by leaps and bounds, but I view it (at the least) as a great learning tool, or, (at the worst) as a means to define the limits of my talents (or patience) and I will then know when to contact a professional...

    So, any comments are most appreciated (now, back to my SQL Queries for Mere Mortals...)

    Thanks in advance,

    Jeff

  • August 30, 2007 at 1:39 am

    #730342

    Hi Jeff,

    I would choose a web-"application" to achieve your goals.

    With VisualBasic .NET (or PHP etc.) you can query the customer for the information needed (via a HTML-form), build a query with that info an give it to SQL-Server. The resulting dataset could be displayed in the same manner.

    When using VB .NET (respectively VisualStudio .NET) you'll have easy access to things like Data-Grids (which are sort- and searchable per click), SQL-Data-Connectors, etc.

    When using PHP or any other language you'll have to define and program that parts by yourself, which can be quite a bit of work.

    I'll leave the query-part to someone with more experience than myself

     

    Greetz

    Kai Adelmann

    Same Shit, Different Day (S. King "Duddits")

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